THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. INTRODUCTION. THERE are many thousands of souls brought to the saving knowledge of God, andtrainedup for heaven by the variousrevela- tions, which God gave to mankind before our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world. His own counsels and contrivances!wrought powerfully for the salvation both of thepatriarchs and the Jews under those darker dispensations, without their particular and explicit knowledge of those divine methods whereby that very salvation was to be effected. These were reserved as a mystery hidden from ages and generations to be revealed by the gospel in these later times. Therefore the gospel is called the." reve- lation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest by a clear interpretation of the scriptures of the prophets, and macle known to all nations for the obedience of faith ;" Rom. xvi. 2j, 26: that is, that the na- tions might show their obedience to a revealing God, by believ-. ing this doctrine now it is clearly revealed, and the prophets are explained. It is the gospel that teaches us how God the Father sent - his own Son to assume human nature, and therein to fulfil all' righteousness, and to . make full satisfaction for our sins by his'' sufferings and death, in order to restoreus to the favour ofGod. It is the gospel that tells us how our Lord JesusChrist ascended to heaven, and receiving from the Father the promise of the' Spirit, sends him down to renew our natures to holiness, and to restore us to the image of God. And it is the gospel that calls . us to believe or trust in this Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in order to be restored to the favour of God by his death and righteousness, and to be renewed after the divine image, by the operations of his holy Spirit. Thus we are taught by the gospel, what hand the Son and Spirit have in our salvation as well as the Father. The Father at:pears here as our sgyereign and offended governor, condescending to be reconciled,: and appointing this method for our recovery : The Son of God appears as a Redeemer or Reconciler ; and the Spirit of God As a Sanctifier ; and we are taught to get an actual interest in these blessings by faith. Upon this account, vvheu we are admitted into the pro- fession of the ehrlrstian faith, the names of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit., are joined together in the very ceremony of VoL. vi. H
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